Deep in the Heart of Texas

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Food, Fun & Guns

Cowboy Action Shooting is much more than just another shooting sport. Yes, we keep score and the competition can be quite stiff at the State or Regional level, but cowboy shooters always compete with a positive and friendly attitude.

The folks that get involved in cowboy action shooting are truly a different breed. They are generally conservative in nature, always respectful and never let their ego get the best of them. Cowboy action shooters are warm, friendly and honest. They are the type of folks that have many friends, few enemies and believe in God and country. Folks that you’d be proud to call friend.

Shooter’s Meeting
Each match begins with the shooter’s meeting and here in Texas we stand tall, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and Honor the Texas flag. We also pray together for a safe and fun filled match.

The Posse System
Everyone that participates in a cowboy action shooting match is expected to be part of the “posse” when not loading or shooting. Safety is our number one priority and everyone is a range officer. One member of the posse will also man the loading table to make sure folks safely load the correct number of rounds for the stage. In cowboy action shooting, we never holster or stage a weapon with a live round in the chamber and the posse member that mans the loading table plays a vital role in our sport.

Another vital member of the posse is the “Timer” as shown in the image below. This member of the posse stands the closest to the shooter and watches every move he or she makes during the stage to insure everyone’s safety. In cowboy action shooting under SASS rules, the Timer is the shooter’s best friend during the 30 or so seconds of live fire.

There are also three independent “Counters” in a SASS match. Each has the responsibility to count “misses” and “procedurals”. The three Counters along with the Timer keep track of how a shooter is doing during a stage. They are also there for the safety of everyone involved and most folks will help out a shooter if he or she looks to be confused about the order of fire or type of sweep being called for.

Friendship and Fellowship
Many SASS clubs will offer a picnic style lunch after the match. This is where folks can relax after a match, enjoy some good food and get to know they’re fellow shooters a little better. It’s also a great time for newbies to learn from the more experienced shooters.